Dec. 3, 2008
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – After holding a one-point lead at halftime, South Carolina struggled with turnovers in the second half in a 74-57 loss at Wake Forest Wednesday morning. Seniors Demetress Adams and Brionna Dickerson led the offense with 15 points each, the third-straight 15-point game for Dickerson, as the Gamecocks shot a season-high 44.4 percent from the field in the game. South Carolina also won the battle of the boards with a 44-28 edge over the Demon Deacons.
South Carolina came out quickly in the rare morning game and built a 16-6 lead as Adams and Dickerson went to work on the inside and out, respectively. The lead grew to 11 points at the 11:48 mark on Dickerson’s third 3-pointer of half. The teams traded baskets over the next two minutes before the Demon Deacons went on a 17-7 spurt that spanned eight minutes and brought the home team within one at 31-32. The run included three 3-pointers as Wake quickly raised their shooting percentage after a dismal start and was helped by three Gamecock turnovers.
It was more of the same in the second half, and Wake took its first lead of the game at 39-38 on a jumper by Camile Collier with 16:33 left to play. Dickerson hit a pair of free throws to put South Carolina back up, but Wake turned up the defensive pressure and was able to beat the Gamecocks press to go on a 12-0 run to build its own 11-point lead with 11:22 on the clock. The run, during which the Gamecocks failed to take a shot, was punctuated with three layups after breaking the South Carolina full-court pressure.
With both teams among the nation’s top four in scoring defense, both offenses were efficient with the Demon Deacons shooting 29-4 percent to the Gamecocks’ 44.4 percent. Wake made up the difference with 19 steals as part of 32 Gamecock turnovers in the contest.
Adams posted her third double-double of the season, grabbing 10 rebounds to go with her 15 points. Sophomore Jewel May posted 11 points and reeled in seven rebounds. Wake Forest’s Alex Tchangoue led all scorers with 19 points and matched Adams’ 10 rebounds for game-high honors. Corinne Groves netted 18 points, and Brittany Waters rounded out the double-digit scorers with 14 points.
After three games away from home, South Carolina returns to the friendly confines of Colonial Life Arena for a six-game home stand, which begins on Fri., Dec. 5, at 8 p.m. against High Point.
